Compressing machine



Dec. 30, 1930; F, J, STOKES 1,786,637

COMPRESS ING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1929 i etented Dee. 39, 1939 FRANCIS J. STORES, OF PHILADELPHA, PENNSYLVANIA COMPEESSING MACHINE Application. filed September 12, 1929. Serial No. 391,995.

v tions `in the density and quantity of the charges of material operated upon.

Generally stated, the invention is embodied in a machine having a lined frame in which there is arranged for reciprocation a punch holder, a sleeve movably surrounding the punch holder and itself movable in the frame of the machine, means :tor adjusting the punch holder in respect to the sleeve, and means for normally positioning the sleeve and adapted to yield under abnormal compression.

rllhe invention also comprises the improvements to be presently described and finally claimed.

ln the following description reference will be made to the accompanying drawing torming part hereof and in which the single ligure is an elevational view, partly in section.

Referring to the drawing 1 indicates the fixed trame oi' the machine. Mounted in bracket 2 forming part of the iXed frame 1 is a die 3. rllhere is a punch holder of which element 4 is a part and the element is slidably mounted at one end in the bracket 2, and at the other end it is movably arranged in a sleeve 9 movable through a bracket 8 forming part of the frame 1. Normally the sleeve 9 is held at rest in the bracket 8, and for this purpose there is shown a lever 10 pivoted to the frame 1 as at 11 and normally positioned by means oi a stop such as is indicated at 17. 6 is an adjusting nut having screw and thread connection with the punch holder 4 and seated 0n the top of the sleeve 9. rlhe purpose of the nut 6 is to adjust the punch holder with respect to the normally stationary sleeve 9 so as to adjust the bottom punch 44, carried by the punch holder, in respect to the die 3 in order to accommodate the desired charge of material to be compressed and in order to eject the tablet from the die. The pivotal fork 7, suitably operated, acting on an adjusting nut 5 on the punch holder 4 serves to litt the punch holder and the punch to eject iinished tablets. rlhere is a rod 18, used when it is desired to make tablets with holes. in

them, and it is immovably attached to the frame l and passes through the end of the lever 10, the sleeve 9, the punch holder 4, and the lower punch 44. The upper punch 16 is moved up and down in a straight line by means, not shown because too well understood, 1n order to compress material in the die 3 and between the lower punch 44, which is then stationary, and the upper punch 16. rlfhe upper punch'16 is shownas provided with a cavity for the reception of the upper end of the core bar 18. However, as indicated, the core bar 18 and the cavity in the punch 16 are not in all cases necessary and may be omitted. The mechanism indicated at 12, 13, 14 and 15 is a spring device which may be used to position the lever 10 against the stop as 17 provided for it so as to insure that the top of the sleeve 9 will normally occupy and remain at a given level, thus constituting it a supportin respect to which the punch and punch holder may be adjusted into operating position, so that the desired depth of cavity will be provided in the die 3 above the punch 44. The function of the spring mechanism is such that it can obviously be replaced by a weight.

The mode of operation may be described as follows: Y

Under normal conditions the parts, with the exception of the punch 16, remain in the positions in which they are shown while material fed into the cavity in the die 3 above the punch 44 is compressediby the descent of the punch 16. The normal thrust of the punch 16 is resisted by the lever 10, which is held, as has been described, to resist that thrust. However, if the thrust of the punch 16 is abnormal on account of the quantity or density orp the material in the cavity in l the die 3 above the punch 44, the lever 10 turns, permitting the sleeve 9, punch holder 4, and punch 44 to descend, thus relieving the compression and avoiding jamming of the mechanism that positively actuates the punch 16. It will of course be understood that during the ejection of tablets the fork or lever 7 lifts the element 4 of the punch holder mechanism in respect to the element 9 of the punch holder mechanism which remains at rest because there is a stop for the Ylever 10 which prevents it from turning in such direction that the Y'element 9 could risefwherea's the lever l0 turns against the opposition of a weight or sprinr in such direction that theV element 9 can fall or descend under abnormal pressure.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates that modiications may be made in details of construction and arrangement and matters of mere form Without departing from the spirit of the in vention which is not limited to such matters or otherwise than the prior art and thelappended claims may require.

I elaim: Y' 1 l. In a compressing machine for tablets and the like a lixed traine, a sleeve mounted to slide in respect Vto the frame, a bottom punch holder mounted to slide in respect to the frame and sleeve, means for adjusting the punch holder in respect to the sleeve, and means arranged to position the sleeve and hold it against normal compression and adapted to yield under abnormal compression.

2. In a compressing machine a fixed trame, a support carried by the frame, yieldable means for immovably positioning the support under normal compression and yieldable under abnormally high compression, a punch holder provided with a punch and seated on the support and upwardly movable in respect to the fixed frame, and means for moving the punch holder upward away from its seat on the support.

3. In a compressing machine, a fixed frame, an upper punch, a lower punch slidably mounted in said fixed frame, and a resilient support for said lower punch arranged to hold said lower punch under normal pressure of said upper punch and to yield and allow movement ot' said lower punch under abnormally high pressure.

FRANCIS J. STOKES. 

